Parepare
Introduction
Parepare is a port city on the southwest coast of Sulawesi in South Sulawesi province, Indonesia, situated roughly 155 kilometres north of the provincial capital, Makassar. As one of the major population centres of the Bugis people, it offers a distinctly Bugis character within an urban, coastal setting.
The city is also known as the birthplace of B. J. Habibie, the third President of Indonesia.
When to go
Parepare has a tropical monsoon climate, so the year splits into a wetter stretch and a drier one. From November through May the rain is heavy, with frequent downpours and wet conditions across much of that period. If you travel then, plan around the rain rather than expecting long dry days.
June to October brings more moderate rainfall and forms the drier half of the year. Conditions are generally less wet than the November-to-May period, which makes these months the easier choice if you would rather spend your time outdoors.
Three days in Parepare
Day one: Start in Parepare, a port city on the west coast of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Get your bearings in the harbour area, where the waterfront gives you a sense of the city's long history as a trading stop. As the day cools, walk into the streets around the centre and look for Bugis cooking — the local kitchens lean on seafood and rice, and the flavours are worth seeking out.
Day two: Give the day to the city's most famous son, Habibie, the former President of Indonesia who was born here. Spend the morning around the sites connected to his memory, then take the afternoon slowly along the coast. Conditions from November to May are warm and humid, so plan your walking for the early hours and keep the middle of the day for shade and food.
Day three: Use Parepare as your base for the wider region. Makassar lies to the south along the coast, and the road between the two cities passes through Bugis country, so a day trip in that direction shows you more of South Sulawesi than the city alone. If you are travelling between June and October, the weather is drier and the roads and boats are easier to rely on.